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Well, we’re into 2013, isn’t it amazing? Think about how every year just seems theoretical until you are in it. 2013 used to sound like this science fiction movie year and not one real people would actually be living their lives in. So, where to next people?

This is the big resolution time! Resolutions have a bad rep, everybody knows that a gym is absolutely packed on January 2, and by June things are back to normal, but there’s a few tips I’d like to give on resolutions to make them work for you. (Wow, this is actually an applicable article, how very Yahoo! of me.)

First, we don’t have to do everything 100 percent. As much as the idea of working out until it hurts sounds like a commendable idea, working out a little every day will do you better. Fifteen minutes every day is better than 1 hour one day a week. Also, think about 25% resolutions, like instead of budgeting to the penny, maybe just budgeting your spending money would be better, something like that.

Resolve based on things you can control. Otherwise you’re up for disappointment.

I don’t like resolutions that aim to “be better.” I mean, there’s very few things that are really good or bad, so sometimes the best resolutions are just setting yourself up for a change.

Make your goals tangible. Also, describe how you know you’ll be done (and yes, everything has a beginning and an ending.)

Set up a review day to see where you are compared to where you want to be.

Explore your whys too–WHY do you want these things? Do you really want these things? Or is it just what you think you should want? (Especially when the reason is “to be healthy”)

Of course there’s the general goal-setting rules–make sure they’re modest and actually attainable. Make sure they leave room for lapses. Make sure you have a contingency plan in case you fail.

It’s perfectly ok to fail.

Actually failure can be a good thing–look, we cannot go through life (I’m talking to myself as much as you here) only doing things we are certain of succeeding at. For one thing it’s limiting, and for another thing it’s boring. However, there is such a thing as an acceptable level of risk, and that’s where I’m looking.